After tussling with Rocket Grunts and Leaders Sierra, Arlo and Cliff, players have the opportunity to encounter their leader - Giovanni.

Giovanni is just like those faced before, except he controls a Shadow Legendary Pokemon - with this month's choice starting as Zapdos and changing to Ho-Oh on June 17.

Naturally, players will need to bring their A-game to beat the leader and a range of very strong Pokemon.

So, taking that into account, here's how to beat Giovanni in June 2021, with the counters for his best Pokemon, including Shadow Ho-Oh.

What Pokemon Can Giovanni Bring to Battles?

Giovanni is notoriously the most difficult of all of the Team GO Rocket gang, with every single Pokemon he controls being powerful. Here is the line-up you can expect from him this month:

Slot One

  • Persian

Slot Two

  • Garchomp
  • Kangaskhan
  • Nidoking

Slot Three

  • Shadow Ho-Oh

How to Beat Giovanni in June 2021 - Best Counters

Here are all of the counters you should consider to beat Giovanni this month, including their best movesets.

Slot One: Persian - (Weaknesses = Fighting)

  • Lucario - Counter/Aura Sphere
  • Conkeldurr - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Mega Lopunny - Low Kick/Focus Blast
  • Machamp - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Blaziken - Counter/Focus Blast
  • Breloom - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Hariyama - Counter/Dynamic Punch

Slot Two: Garchomp – (Weakness = Dragon, Fairy and Ice x4)

  • Galarian Darmanitan - Ice Fang/Avalanche
  • Mamoswine - Powder Snow/Avalanche
  • Mega Abomasnow - Powder Snow/Weather Ball
  • Weavile - Ice Shard/Avalanche
  • Glaceon - Frost Breath/Avalanche
  • Articuno - Ice Shard/Ice Beam
  • Mewtwo - Confusion/Ice Beam

Slot Two: Kangaskhan – (Weaknesses = Fighting)

  • Conkeldurr - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Lucario - Counter/Aura Sphere
  • Machamp - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Mega Lopunny - Low Kick/Focus Blast
  • Breloom - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Hariyama - Counter/Dynamic Punch
  • Mega Charizard Y - Wing Attack/Blast Burn

Slot Two: Nidoking – (Weaknesses = Ground, Ice, Psychic and Water)

  • Mewtwo - Confusion/Psystrike
  • Mega Blastoise - Water Gun/Hydro Cannon
  • Therian Landorus - Mud Shot/Earthquake or Incarnate Landorus - Mud Shot/Earth Power
  • Mega Gyarados - Waterfall/Hydro Pump
  • Kyogre - Waterfall/Surf
  • Mamoswine - Mud Slap/Avalanche
  • Metagross - Zen Headbutt/Psychic

Slot Three: Ho-Oh – (Weaknesses = Electric, Water and Rock x4)

  • Rampardos - Smack Down/Rock Slide
  • Rhyperior - Smack Down/Rock Wrecker
  • Terrakion - Smack Down/Rock Slide
  • Tyranitar - Smack Down/Stone Edge
  • Landorus - Rock Throw/Rock Slide
  • Aerodactly - Rock Throw/Rock Slide
  • Gigalith - Smack Down/Rock Slide
  • Omastar - Rock Throw/Rock Slide

All of the above counters are listed in order of effectiveness.

Best Team Compositions

It's impossible to work out which Pokemon Giovanni is accompanying his Persian and Ho-Oh with, however, you can be smart about the Pokemon you pick.

This is the team I would personally initially start with:

  • Lucario
  • Mamoswine
  • Rampardos

From there, should Giovanni bring out something that has you beat, it's best to retreat and mix up your team.